Galveston County residents with warrants from League City Municipal Court should pay up now if they want to continue driving.

On July 1, the city plans to start a new program to collect nearly $1 million in unpaid fines and fees associated with traffic violations and other outstanding warrants.

Through a partnership among the city, the Galveston County Tax Office and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Registration and Titling System and the Galveston County Tax Office, drivers who do not pay outstanding traffic fines will not be able to renew their vehicle registrations at the tax office until they make payment arrangements at the court.

"It's another tool, requiring someone to come in before they can renew their registration," said Shirley Murphy, League City Municipal Court administrator.

League City may be charting some new ground with the three-way partnership to catch traffic-ticket scofflaws, Murphy said.

"I've yet to find anyone who's used it for traffic citations," she said. "I've found a few using it for red-light cameras."